Is an appealing fabric enough to guarantee a well-made garment? No, because quality also depends on the assembly, the drape, the comfort and the piece's ability to keep its shape. To help you examine these clues, read the criteria for a quality garment, then assess each piece according to how you will really wear it rather than its appearance alone.
The construction quality of a women's garment is judged by combining several clues. Some can be checked by eye or by touch, while resistance to washing and wear is only confirmed over time or through suitable tests.
What you can see does not prove everything
Imagine a jacket whose fabric feels soft and whose colour looks even. These qualities give a first impression, but on their own they do not reveal the strength of the seams, the precision of the cut or how it holds up after several washes.
Start by looking at the garment laid flat, then examine it on the right side and the wrong side. Look for differences in shade, loose threads, small holes, stains and seams that pucker the fabric. These visible clues can point to a construction defect, but their absence does not certify the durability of the piece.
Touch should also be interpreted with caution. A very soft fabric may have received a surface finish, while a more textured fabric can be perfectly suited to its use. Look instead for a feel that is consistent with the garment: suppleness for a flowing blouse, structure for a tailored jacket, softness against the skin for a piece worn directly on the body.
Assessing the material according to the garment's use
Is a natural material always a guarantee of quality? Not necessarily: the fibre, the yarn, the weave or knit, the weight and the finish all contribute to the result. Above all, a fabric must match the function of the piece and offer a drape, comfort and care that suit you.
For a dress or a blouse, look at how the fabric follows your movement. For a jacket, check that it keeps enough structure without becoming stiff. To learn more about the characteristics of fabrics made in Italy, read our article on the quality of Italian fabrics.
Do not infer a garment's composition from its appearance or feel. To compare selected materials by their characteristics, you can also read our article on premium materials for women's clothing. The product page and the label remain the references for knowing the composition of a specific piece.
Inspecting seams and finishing
Turn the garment inside out: the wrong side gives useful information about how its parts are assembled. Check whether the stitches are even, whether the seam lies flat and whether the edges are neatly finished. Loose threads, visible gaps between stitches or fabric that puckers along the seam deserve particular attention.
Then examine the areas under strain, such as the shoulders, armholes, pockets and the crotch of trousers. Check that the buttons are secure and that the zips open without catching. There is no ideal finish for every fabric: a seam must be suited to the material and the function of the garment.
At Love at Me, our clothes are made in Italy in family-run workshops. Patricia Donadi brings more than two decades of experience in fashion, Hila Assoufi contributes to the stylistic vision, and our team writes, designs, chooses and tests each piece. These elements describe our creative approach, without replacing the examination of each garment.
Checking the cut, drape and comfort
A piece can look well made on the hanger and yet pull or feel uncomfortable once worn. Try it on if possible, sit down, raise your arms and walk a few steps. Check that the shoulders stay in place, that the seams do not create tension and that the garment follows your movements.
The drape of the garment depends on both the cut and the material. A skirt should not twist for no reason, and a sleeve should not restrict movement. Online, compare your measurements with the size guide for the category concerned, then read the fit information when it is available. A chart helps you choose, but does not on its own guarantee an identical fit for every body shape.
Reading labels without confusing origin and quality
The composition tells you which fibres are used, while the care instructions tell you how to look after the piece. In France, the DGCCRF fact sheet on labelling, published in 2024, points out that the composition label must state the percentages of fibres. It also specifies that the care label is optional but recommended, and that the geographical origin of manufacture is optional.
An indication of origin such as Made in Italy is therefore an element of traceability, not sufficient proof of the quality of a particular piece. The seams, the cut, the material and the information on the product page still need to be examined separately.
The reliability of the information also deserves to be checked. The IFTH reports that a European campaign carried out in 2026 in eight countries on 132 garments found a discrepancy between the declared and actual composition on 37% of the labels tested. This result concerns that controlled sample, not all the clothing available.
In June 2026, the European Commission also presented the accuracy of clothing labels as a systemic problem following these checks. These findings reinforce the value of reading product information carefully, without confusing a marketing claim with a performance test.
Understanding what durability reveals over time
A garment's resistance cannot be fully checked in the fitting room. Changes in size after washing, colour fastness, pilling and wear from rubbing require observation over time or specific tests. Following the care instructions also helps you avoid attributing to the garment a defect caused by unsuitable washing.
The DURHABI study, carried out between 2022 and 2024 by the IFTH with the support of ADEME and Refashion, characterised 350 products and drew on more than 47,000 consumer responses to study the physical durability of textiles. This method illustrates why an impression from touch is not enough to establish a garment's resistance in use.
To judge a piece, combine immediate clues with verifiable information: the condition of the material, the regularity of the seams, the ease of the cut, the detailed composition and care that is compatible with your daily life. To better distinguish fibre families, our article on noble materials in clothing can complete these benchmarks, without replacing a check of each model's composition.
The right benchmarks for choosing a well-made piece
The quality of a women's garment lies in the balance between material, assembly, cut and product information. Examine the right side as well as the wrong side, check comfort in movement and read the composition and care instructions. Finally, bear in mind that origin and feel offer clues, while real resistance is confirmed mainly through use or suitable tests.
Choosing pieces designed for your wardrobe
When you are looking for an easy-to-wear piece, the details count as much as the look: material, cut, construction and size information. At Love at Me, our clothes are made in Italy in family-run workshops, and our size guide notably covers tops, bottoms, dresses, jumpsuits, jackets and coats.
You can compare pieces with your wardrobe and choose according to the cut, the material and how you will use them. To browse the styles offered in limited quantities, discover our limited edition pieces.
Frequently asked questions
Does a natural material guarantee better construction?
No, the nature of the fibre is not enough to judge the assembly or the resistance of the garment. Also examine the weave, the seams, the cut and the care information.
How can you quickly check a garment's seams?
Look at the seams on the right side and the wrong side, especially at the shoulders, pockets and areas under tension. Look for even stitches, finished edges and no loose threads or puckered fabric.
Does Made in Italy prove the quality of a piece?
This label tells you about the origin of manufacture, but is not enough to assess the cut, the finishing or the resistance of a specific model. Check these elements on the garment and in its product information.
How do you choose a size when buying online?
Take your measurements and compare them with the guide for the garment's category. At Love at Me, the size guide notably covers tops, bottoms, dresses, jumpsuits, jackets and coats.
Can you assess a garment's durability before buying it?
You can examine the material, the finishing and the care instructions to spot useful clues. Colour fastness, resistance to pilling and changes in shape are better checked through use or suitable tests.